If you could recommend just one book... what would it be?

mom of franz

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Originally Posted by vespacat

Though I already chose a non-fiction book, I would say for fiction my favourite novel is "The Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov.

I love it all... Russian literature, Russian politics, Russian Blues... and my background is German.
Go figure!
Hmmm, except for the German part (trying to throw us off track) sure you're not Condalezza Rice???
My guess is you already have, but have you read Maxim Gorky...great Russian writer!
 

jalapeno

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Hmm.. hard! There are too many good books!


This is a weird choice really, but I had so much fun reading Jay Leno's book, "Leading with My Chin".
 

sofiecusion

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All of the Harry Potter books are great!!! Especially since you want to be a teacher....there are tons of trade books that are also good for adults to read...

 

jin & spawn

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Ooooh, I love books, but I don't know if I can pick an all time absolute favorite! I'll always love the Black Stallion series because that's what got me started on books when I was young... but it's not really anything I'd 'recommend' for adults!


For fiction I think I would have to go with 'Watchers' by Dean Koontz. But there are sooo many books that I really love, I hate to just single that one out!
 

eatrawfish

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If you want weird slow moving Japanese stories (well, I am anyway) I'd recomend Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami.

I quite adore Jane Austen and if you are having trouble with her longer books I'd go for Northanger Abbey.

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the few books I read for High School that I read again later (don't get one that is abridged TOO short though, they always cut Haydee out).

My all time favorite non-romance novel is Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. I read it in High School and Yossarians feelings about war so closely mirrored my own feelings about High School.

I have too many romance novels I like to list really...

(Sorry so long, like books too much).
 

vespacat

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Condaleeza Rice... that's kind of a scary thought. What are trying to pin me as?


Haven't read Maxim Gorky, but have certainly heard OF him. Socialist writer, correct?

A
Originally Posted by Mom of Franz

Hmmm, except for the German part (trying to throw us off track) sure you're not Condalezza Rice???
My guess is you already have, but have you read Maxim Gorky...great Russian writer!
 

clixpix

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Thanks for the thread Ari...we can always use good book recommendations! "Spilling Clarence" piqued my interest as well on the other thread. You'll have to let me know what you think of it, since we seem to have the same taste in books.


Hmm...favorites:

"A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving is one of my absolute favs. He's a quirky writer, and hit or miss, but this is his best, IMO.

"Memoirs of a Geisha". (forgot the author's name). Beautifully written, and it was fascinating to learn about the life of geishas.

"The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger. I mentioned this on the other thread, but I absolutely loved it. I have this weird fascination with stories involving time travel.


Nearly anything by Pat Conroy: "The Lords of Discipline" (I cried for three days after I finished everytime I even thought about it!), "The Prince of Tides" is incredible...don't let that crappy movie form your opinion about the book...stupid Streisand.
, "The Great Santini".

These are just those that come to mind, I'm sure I'll be adding more as I remember them!
 

cazx01

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A boy called it, this book is amazing, based on a true story of a little boy who was badly abused by his mother, it's a really good book and i could'nt put it down.
 

lillekat

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I could go on forever about my fave books... but if I had to recommend just one - if you're into this type of thing - I'd say "Waylander" by David Gemmell... it opened up a new style of writing for me - I've never been one for the Mills and Boon saccharin sickly sop. Once you've picked up Waylander, you won't want to put it down and that was the book that begun my love of these novels. The characters are so real, so vivid in the imagination that you'll find yourself laughing and crying along with them... oh sad I know, but that's what makes a book magical for me
 

berylayn

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Originally Posted by sofiecusion

All of the Harry Potter books are great!!! Especially since you want to be a teacher....there are tons of trade books that are also good for adults to read...

Very True!! I can never put down Harry Potter. Speaking of, I need to go back and re-read number 4 before the 5th book comes out in June or July (i can't remember which month it is...)
 

mikenealis

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Originally Posted by Hydroaxe

Where's my towel?...
Oh yeah... here it is...
*Ahhhhhh...
Awesome.

Mine, however, would have to be The Sun Also Rises.
 

kathryn41

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This is really hard- there are so many wonderful books out there! I think I will recommend "The Blue Castle" by Lucy Maud Montgomery - out of print now, unfortunately, and yes, that is the same author who wrote the 'Anne of Green Gables' books..

Oh, and I loved 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn'.

Kathryn
 

george'smom

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Originally Posted by Mom of Franz

But if I had to pick one book, I would pick 1943s "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." I read it the first time when I was 11...but it really is an an adult book. I had spied it on the bookshelf at home, asked my mom about it and she said I was too young to read it. So naturally, I grabbed it off the shelf as soon as I could. My mom was right, considering it's a book about abject poverty, alcoholism and loss. But it is also a book that inspires your soul. Long live Francie Nolan.
That was exactly the first book that came to my mind too!! I loved this book and was in High School when I read it.
 

katie=^..^=

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These books are all-time favorites of mine and I've been wanting to recommend them to The Cat Site folks. They are The Cat Who Went to Paris, A Cat Abroad: The Further Adventures of Norton the Cat Who Went to Paris, and The Cat Who'll Live Forever, all by Peter Gethers.

The first one is the story of a writer's first tiny kitten and the joy and adventures they share together as the author takes his little cat with him to Europe.

The second one is mainly an effort to make money from the fans of the first one.

The third is the heartbreaking story of the little cat's old age and death and how hard it hits his "owner."
 

ugaimes

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Originally Posted by berylayn

I loved the book "This much I know is true" by Wally Lamb. I read it awhile back, but I remember not being able to put it down. Its a good read.

I know you picked it up per my reccomendation Ari -- were you able to get into it?? Did you finish it?
Oh Beryl, I love Wally Lamb! Great taste in authors!!!

My choice is actually another book by him: "She's Come Undone." I read it every summer; it's great!
 

turtlecat

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:p This is tough, so bear with me because there's so many-depending on the reasoning. But I think.. since we're mostly women here, and Ryan
I think everyone would get a kick out of it. However, i warn you .. the dicsworld books are addictive. -

Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett


Or of course any post modern fairy tale.. :p I'm obsessed with those.
 

bumpy

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One could try The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. It is quite a simple and light read yet one can really read it in a deeper level. A story of love, growing up and ultimately forgiveness. Not to mention it is a real touching story that grabs you with its first two sentence, which goes:
"My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973."
 
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